Dieing-out machine



Aug. 26, 1947.

B. A. STROUT DIEING-OUT MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug, 26,1947.

B. A. STROUT DIEING-OUT MACHINE 5 sheets-sheei '2 Filed sept. a, 1945 Aug, 26, 1947.

B. A. STROUT' DIEING-OUT MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1945 sheets-sheet s Aug. 26, 1947. A STRJOUT f- 2,426,237

DIMM-OUT MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1945 5` Sheets-Sheet 4 ,JZ F15. 9. n

3 Agg Invenor BasiA`5r'oui Aug. 26, 1947. i

DIEING-OUT MACHINE Filed sein. 8. 1945 5 sheets-sheet 5 B. A. STROUT 2,426,287

Patented Aug. 26, 1947 DIEING-OUT MACHINE- Basil A. Strout, Farmingdale, Maine, assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application September 8, `19`ei5,`1`Sferial No. '615,198

8 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to dieing-out machines of the type in which freely movable dies are forced through sheet material to form blanks, and more particularly to mechanism for automatically counting cut blanks as they are formed.

In connection with the operation of die presses, such as choking machines commonly used in the trade to produce shoe part blanks by means of dies, a considerable part of the time of the operator is consumed in counting the blanks produced. This is due to the fact that an operator,-

who may produce several hundreds or thousands of blanks each day, is likely to operate upon several different orders requiring various changes in the dies used, with a varying number of blanks required for each die. Since the dies are of diiferent` sizes and types, the operator must exercise considerable care in counting the pieces as he cuts them, and, in order to be economical of material, heV should not produce more than the required number of any particular size, style, or type of blank. It is an object of the present invention to provide, in a machine of the type referred to, mechanism for automatically counting and registering the number of blanks of various kinds produced, thereby relieving the operator from counting blanks.

To this end and as illustrated, the machine is provided with a plurality of electricallyoperated registering devices, any one of which, selectively, may be placed in circuit with operating mechanism for initiating an operation to produce a blank. Thus, when a cutting operation takes `pla-ce, the action which initiates it also initiates an operation of one or another of the registering devices, with the result that a record of the blank cut is made. Preferably and as shown, this is accomplished by mounting a starting handle for initiating operation of a clutch, which in turn causes the descent of a presser arm upon a die, so that the handle may also initiate, selectively, the operation of any one of the registering devices. Preferably, each registering device is associated with a particular type or size of die, so that, when the operator makes use of a particular die, he operates the starting handle in such a way as to produce a recording of the cut upon the registering device corresponding to the particular die which he is using.

Another feature of the invention consists in mechanism for preventing operation of any one of the registering devices until aiterthe arm has been moved away from the position in which it made its previous cut. In this way, the recording of two strokes of the arm for a single cut is avoided,` thus tending to improve the accuracy of V'the count. y Preferably and as illustrated, this mechanism comprises a trip switch in circuit with the registering devices, and mounted at the top of the post of the machine. The Yswitch comprises two contacts', one of which is carried by a pivoted lever normally held away from the contact at the upper end of the spindle by a latch plate. The plate. is carried by a lifting lever mounted l0 for universal'movement upon the frame of the machine and having a dog which engages a ratchet carried by the spindle in such manner that when the arm is moved away from the posi- Ition of its previous cut, the latch plate will be disengaged permitting the trip switch to be closed and thus conditioning the circuit for an operation of the starting handle.

`These and other features of the invention are disclosed in the following specication and in the accompanying drawings, and are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

i i Fig. 1 `is a perspective view of a clicking machine `embodying the registering mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 2, is a front elevation of a portion of the machine illustrating ,the mounting of the registering devices;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the manually operable starting lever and registering device control;

Fi'gfi` isa plan view, partly in section, of the lower portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional View through l the mechanism Vshown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional View of the starting handle shown in operative relation to one *of the registering device circuit controlling switches;

4o* 'Figli 'is a vertical cross section through the lowerportion of the starting handle;

"Fig 8 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the clicking machine showing the mechanism f for controlling the trip switch; Fig. 9 is fa plan view of the trip switch and control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, `of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the lifting lever and pawl and associated mechanism; and

` Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the registering device and trip switch control circuits.

The invention, is embodied in a clicking machine of the type. disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 921,503, granted May 11, 1909,

upon application of Arthur Bates, to which reference may be had for details of clicking machine structure not herein illustrated. As shown in Fig. 1, the present machine comprises a frame I supporting a cutting block I2 and having a vertically reciprocable post I4 carrying a presser arm or beam I6, movable about the axis of the post across the surface of the cutting block and movable upon the reciprocation of the post toward and away from the cutting block in performing a pressure-applying operation upon a die positioned upon work upon the cutting block. The post is reciprocated by an eccentric I8 on a rotary shaft arranged to be connected to a power driven flywheel 22 by a one-revolution clutch 24. Operation of the clutch is initiated by a starting lever 26 arranged to cause clutch engagement upon upward movement of a trip rod 28 adapted to be lifted by a solenoid 30 in response to operation of a starting handle 32 mounted upon the end of the arm I6.

In order that the operator may readily record operations of the presser member performed in producing each of several different kinds of blanks, there is provided a plurality of registering devices 34 and 35 for recording the number of blanks produced. Each of these is connected in series with the solenoid 30, a trip switch 36 at the upper end of the beam, and one of several registering device control switches 38 and 40 arranged to be closed selectively by operation of the starting handle 32. Thus, when the starting handle is operated to initiate an operation of the presser arm, each stroke of the arm is recorded upon one or another of the registering devices.

There is also provided means for initiating operation of the presser arm independently of the registering devices. This means comprises a separate circuit which includes the solenoid and a control switch 42, Fig. 5, also arranged to be operated by the starting handle.

The starting handle 32 is carried upon a switch operating rod 44 pivotally mounted upon a casing 46 at the outer end of the presser arm I6. The casing, best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6,

has a lower hollow cylindrical portion 48, having a reduced depending portion 58 secured by means of a set screw 52 to an upstanding stud 54 on the presser arm.

The registering device control switches 38 and are of the push-button type, and are commonly mounted in the casing so that their push buttons 56 extend radially of the casing. The control switch 42 is of a similar type, and is mounted in the depending portion of the casing with its push button 58 extending upwardly.

n order to operate the switches 38 and 40, the switch operatingV rod 44 is provided at its lower end with two spaced sets of radial arms 60 and 62. Each set of arms comprises four members varranged in a star pattern, the upper set 62 being offset angularly about the rod 44 by 45 from the lower set 68, and the lower set being normally located in the plane of the push buttons 56. The rod 44 is mounted for movement under actuation of the starting handle 32, both heightwise and angularly out of vertical position, so that one or another of the arms can be moved to engage a selected push button. To provide suitable mounting for the rod 44, the upper portion of the casing comprises a cover plate 64 secured to the casing by screws 66. The central portion of the cover plate has an upwardlyextending hollow boss 68 forming a sleeve surrounding the rod 44, and the upper end of the boss is provided with a concave seat 10 adapted to receive a ball member 12 having a bore in which is positioned the starting handle rod 44. The rod has a longitudinally extending keyway 14, in which is located a key 16, Fig. '7, engaging the ball member, thus to provide for sliding movement of the rod relatively to the ball member, but preventing rotation of the rod. The ball member is retained in position on the seat 10 by a plate 18 resting on the top of the boss and bearing upon the upper portion of the ball member. The plate 18 is forced toward the boss by springs 80, located in bores 82 extending vertically of the boss and surrounding four studs 84, which extend through the plate and through the bores in the boss. The springs bear against the upper end walls of the bores and upon nuts 86 at the lower ends of the studs. This arrangement permits movement of the rod 44 angularly out of the vertical position, as shown in Fig. 6, but, when released, the rod will be returned to its vertical position by operation of the springs 8U and plate 18.

Preferably and as shown, the registering devices 34, 35 are of the solenoid operated type and, for convenience, are mounted upon a plate 88 extending in a vertical direction and positioned near the upper end of the frame of the machine, in such a way as to be readily visible to an operator standing in front of the cutting block. The registering devices are arranged in two sets upon the plate, in such a way that the positions of the registering devices correspond to the two series of radial arms 68, 62 upon the starting handle. Thus, it will be noted that the four arms of the upper series are arranged in the form of a diamond standing on one of its corners, whereas the projections of the lower set are arranged in the formv of a rectangle resting on its side. In this way, by having the registering devices arranged on the supporting plate in the manner corresponding to the arrangement of the two series of arms, the operator, by glancing at the registering devices, can readily determine in which direction to move the starting handle in order to record the operation of the machine upon a particular registering device, which, of course, would correspond to the particular die being used at the time.

The starting handle 32, which is slidable upon the rod 44 is normally supported somewhat above the boss 68 by a spring 90 seated in a cavity 92 in the lower part of the handle and Ibearing upon a washer 94 resting upon the plate 18.

For operating the control switch 42 there is provided a plunger 96 slidably mounted within the rod 44 having at one end a button 98, which normally rests upon the upper surface of the handle 32. The lower end of the plunger bears a screw |80, the head of which is somewhat larger than the plunger 96 and is arranged to be received in a recess IUI in the lower end of the rod 44. Thus, in the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 5, the plunger is supported from f the upper end of the handle 32 and the plunger screw |88, in turn, supports the rod 4D. The upper end of the rod 44 terminates below the upper end of the handle, and, in the space between the rod and the button 98 is a collar |02, slidable relatively to the plunger and secured to the handle by a screw |04, there being a weak spring |06 surrounding the upper end of the plunger and bearingupon the upper end of the collar and the underside of the button 98. This construction is suchathatthe handle 32, rod 44,

and plunger 06 are normally heldin the position shown in Fig. 5, further upward movement of the rod being Aprevented by engagement of the keyl6 with Athe lower end wall of the keyway "i4, as best shown in Fig. 7. From this position, the rod44 can be tilted in such manner as to cause one ofuthe arms 60 to operate one of the switches 38, as shown in Fig. 6. When it is desired to operate one of the switches 40, the handle 32 is depressed against the pressure of the spring 90, with the result that the collar |02 engages the rod 44, forcing it downwardly until the upper set of arms 62 is disposed in the plane of the switches 38,r 40, after'which the rod can be tilted in a direction to operate a selected switch 40.

When the starting handle is close to the washer 94 with the` collar |02 engaging'the upper end of the rod, the spring |06 holds the button 98 of Vthe plunger 35 some distance above the upper end'of the handle, .32, with the result that the plunger remains .in its original` position within the rod. However, when it is desired to operate the control switch 42, the button is depressed, thus projecting the plunger beyond the lower end of the rod a su'icient `distance to cause the screw to engage and operate the push button E0 of the switch 42.

To facilitate tilting. movement of the rod in directions to operate a selected switch 30, there are provided four `pins |08 depending from a plate H0, retained inV a recess in the cover plate 614, and eachpositioned toenter between two adjacent arms 62,'thus to guide an arm 60 toward its particular switch. Similarly, the arms 62, when the rod is in its lower position, are guided to a selected switch 40 by upstanding pins H2, each of which is positioned to enter between two of the adjacent arms 60 to guide an arm 62 toward its particular switch.

In the normal operation of the machine, a cutting die is placedupon material in position upon the block l2. AIhefpresser arm` I6 is, swung about the axis of the post Vl4by'means of the starting handle 32, until the arm is in position over the die. The starting handle is then moved in a direction toclo'se one of the'switches 38 or 4,0, corresponding to the registering device for recording the number of blanks `cut by the particular die being used. If the trip switch 36 is closed, this initiates an operation of the presser arm to produce a blank, and also actuates one of the registering devices to record the cutting operation.

The purpose of the trip switch and its associated mechanism is to prevent repetition of the recording of the operation in producing a particular blank, in the event that the starting handle were to be operated a second time without swinging the arm from its position over the die. Accordingly, mechanism is provided for rendering the trip switch inoperative after a single registering operation until after the presser arm has been moved an appreciable distance away from its position in which the starting handle is tripped.

To this end, the trip switch 36 comprises a fixed contact ||4, Figs. 1, 9, and 10, secured to the upper end of the post I4 by screws |5vand separated from the post by a plate of insulating material i6, and a movable contact I8 mounted on a plate of insulating material I9 secured to a lever arm |20 pivoted at |22 on an arm |24 of an upstanding bracket |26 secured to the upper end of the frame l0 of the machine. With the post in its uppermost position with the presser arm raised above the block, the two trip switch contacts are held in engagement with each other by operation of a spring |28 connected to the lever |20 and to an upwardly extending stationary plate |30 supported upon the bracket |26.

In orderv to `open the trip switch upon descent of the post, thereis provideda latch arm |32, the upper end of which is secured to the lever rarm |20 by a ball and socket connection |34. LThe latch arm extends downwardly past the edge ofv a laterally extending plate |36 carried by the bracket, and has a notch |38 for engaging the edge of the platethere being a spring |40 secured tothe lower end of the latch arm and to the bracket for urging the latch arm toward the edge of the plate. Thus, when the post descends in producing a pressure-applying op-eration of the presser arm, the lever |20 rotates down- .wardly about its pivot |22, and the latch is Mounted upon the outer end of the plate |36V is a guideway |50, in which a pawl |52 is slidable toward or away from the teeth of a ratchet |54 secured to the Vpost |4, the pawl normally being urged toward the ratchet teeth by a spring |56. Extending outwardly beyond the ratchet is a plate |53 operable upon upward movement of the post to engage the underside of the pawl |52 to raise the pawl -and the plate |36. The arm |20 carries a stopI `screw |60 arranged upon .downward movement ofthe arm |20 to engage the upper surface of the plate |30, thus limiting downward movement of the lever |20.

The construction and arrangement of parts is such that, when the post moves downwardly, the plate |36, the latch |32, the lever |20 and the pawl |52 all move downwardly, the lever |20, however, being arrested in its downward movement by the plate |30. When the post moves upwardly, the plate |58 engages the pawl |52 and raises the plate |36, until the edge thereof is engaged by the latch. Further movement of the post upwardly results .in carrying the plate as well as the lever |20 upwardly, until the contact IIB is separated from the fixed contact |4, thus opening the trip switch. The switch will remain open until the post has been moved angularly a suilicient distance in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 9) to shift the plate |36 about itspivot by a suicient distance to release the latch, whereupon the lever 20 drops and again closes the trip switch.

It is to be noted that the direction of the ratchet teeth is such that movement of the arm aboutthe axis of the post in a clockwise direction will not effect closing of the trip switch. As

a result of this, the presser arm must be moved a suflicient distance to clear the arm. fromits position over the die, either in a counterclockwise direction or in a clockwise direction, followed by return movement in a counterclockwise direction. In view of this, the tripswitch will beopen after each operation of the presser arm, which is accompanied by an operation of the, counting device until the` arm has been moved through a distance which is at least that required to uncoverv theparticulardie being used. Therefore, a second registering of the same blank or presser arm operation will not occur, even though the arm may be again brought down upon the blank through operation of the control switch 36, as sometimes might be necessary when operating upon heavy material which requires more than one stroke of the presser arm to produce a blank.

As shown in the wiring diagram, the clutch trip solenoid 38 is included in a power circuit, having main leads |62, connected-to one side of the solenoid, and |64 connected to one side of the control switch 42. The other side of the control switch is connected to the solenoid by a lead |65. Since the switch 42 is in series with the solenoid, an operation of the presser arm can be accomplished independently of operation of the registering devices. Each of the switches 38 and 40 has a lead |66 extending from one side of the switch to the power line |64, and a lead |68 eX- tendingfrom the other side f the switch to one of: the registering devices 34 or 35. From the other side of each of the registering devices there is a lead ITE) extending to one side of the trip switch, there being a lead |12 from the other side of the trip switch to the solenoid. Thus, each of the registering devices 34', 35 can selectively be placed in circuit through a switch 38 or 40, the trip switch 36 and the solenoid3. Consequently, when one of the switches 38, 48 is tripped a corresponding registering device will be operated, and at the same time the solenoid 38 will be operated to eiect a pressure-applying operation of the presser arm,

In summarizing the operation of the machine, assuming that the trip switch 36 at the upper end of the post is closed, the operator positions a die upon sheet. material on the block l2, grasps the starting handle 32 and swings the presser arm |6 into position over the die. He then tilts or depresses and tilts the handle 32, in order to close a selected switch 38 or 40 corresponding to one of the registering devices 34 or 35, which, in turn, the operator associates with the particular die being operated upon, with the result that the solenoid 36 initiates operation of the clutch 24 in effecting a pressure-applying operation of the arm Iupon the die to produce a blank, and at the same time causes an operation of the selected registering device to record the production of the blank. As the post |4 descends during the pressure-applying operation, the trip switch 36 is opened and, when the post rises, the latch arm f |32 engages the plate |36, and the plate is raised by engagement of the plate |58 withY the pawl |52, thus also raising the lever |26 and opening the trip switch. If the operator-nds it necessary to cause a second operation of the arm in producing the blank, he depresses the starting handle 32 as far as it will go, holding his thumb yupon the button 98, with the result that the control switch 42 -is actuated, causing a second operation of the presser arm without an attendant recording by a counting device. of the blank, the presserV arm is swung away from the die and, in the manner above set forth, the ratchet |54 acting upon the pawl |52 effects a release of the latch |32, with-the result that the lever |20 drops, again closing the trip switch 36, conditioning it fora subsequentoperation.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

After the formation 1. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a cutting block mounted in the frame, a post located at one sideA of the cutting block, a presser arm carried by the post, power-operated means for reciprocating the post, and means for initiating a power operation including a clutch, said machine having a solenoidfor operating the clutch, means for initiating an operation of the solenoid comprising a starting handle mounted upon the presser arm, a switch mounted for operative relation by the starting handle, and an electric circuit extending through the solenoid and through the switch, a registering device, an electric circuit extending through the solenoid and the registering device, and asecond switch mounted in operative relation to the arm, and means mounting the starting handle for movement to close either of the switches selectively, thereby to initiate a pressure-applying operation and a simultaneous operation of the registering device, or to initiate a pressure-applying operation independently of operation of the registering device.

2. A clicking machine comprising a frame, a cutting block mounted in the frame, a presser arm mounted for reciprocation heightwise of the block for producing pressure-applying operations upon the block, and power-operated means for reciprocating the presser member, said machine having means for initiating a single operation of the power-operating means including a solenoid, an electrically operated registering device in circuit with the solenoid, a starting switch in the circuit with the registering device and the solenoid, and a starting handle mounted upon the presser arm for effecting operation of the starting switch.

3. In a clicking machine having a cutting block, a presser arm mounted for movement heightwise of the block, power-operated means for effecting a reciprocation of the presser arm,.electrically operatedA means for initiating operation of the power-operated means including in series a solenoid, a plurality of starting switches and a plurality of electrically operated registering devices, and a starting handle constructed and arranged to operate selectively the starting switches, thereby simultaneously to initiate an operation of the power-operated means and operation of one of the registering devices.

4. In a clicking machine having a frame, a cutting block carried by the frame, a presser arm mounted for movement toward and away from the block, and power-operated means for effecting reciprocation of the presser arm, a solenoid for initiating operation of the poweroperated means, an electrical control circuit for the solenoidcomprising a plurality of electrically operated registering devices, leads from one side of each lof the registeringv devices extending in operative relation to one side of the solenoid, leads extending from the other side of each of the registering devices,k respectively, to one side of each ofaplurality of starting switches, leads extending, respectively, from the other side of each of the starting switches to the other side of the solenoid, ,and a manually operable member mounted upon the presser arm for selectively closing the starting, switches.

5. In a clicking machine having a cutting block, a presser arm mountedfor movement heightwise oftheV block and power-operated means for effecting` reciprocations of the presser arm, the combination of a plurality-of electrically operated registering devices, an electric circuit for initiating operation of the power-operated means comp-rising a solenoid, a plurality of starting switches, each of the registering devices having a lead extending to one side of the solenoid and each having a lead extending to one side of one of the starting switches, the other side of each of the starting switches being connected to the power line through the solenoid, and a starting handle for initiating operation selectively of one of the starting switches.

6. A clicking machine comprising a cutting block, a post mounted for reciprocation heightwise of the block, a presser arm carried by the post, and power-operated means for reciprocating the post, said machine having electrical means for initiating operation of the power-operated means including a solenoid, means for initiating an operation of the solenoid including in circuit a trip switch mounted at the top of the post and a starting switch mounted upon the presser arm, means for normally holding the tripswitch in an operative position, means operable upon movement of the arm about the axis of the post for rendering the trip switch operative, and means for initiating an operation of the starting switch to eiect a pressure-applying operation at such time as the trip switch is operated.

7. A clicking machine comprising a cutting block, a post mounted at one side of the block and arranged for reciprocation heightwise of the block, a presser arm carried by the post and movable over the cutting block about the axis of the post and heightwise with the post toward and away from the cutting block, power means for reciprocating the post, electrically operated means for initiating an operation of the power means, a starting handle for controlling the initiating means, a trip switch located in circuit with the electrically operated means and comprising a contact carried at the upper end of the post and a movable contact, means normally operable to force the movable contact into engagement with the rst-mentioned contact, means operable upon depression of the post to separate the contacts, and means operable upon subsequent elevation of the post to hold the contacts out of engagement with each other.

8. A clicking machine comprising a cutting block, a post mounted for reciprocation heightwise of the block, a presser arm carried by the post, power-operated means for initiating pressure-applying operation of the presser arm upon the block, an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the power means including a solenoid, a starting switch and a trip switch, the trip switch comprising a fixed contact mounted at the upper end of the post and a lever arm pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine and having a contact movable into engagement with the xed contact, a spring normally operative to force the two contacts into engagement with each other, a latch carried by the lever, a pivoted plate arranged to engage the latch upon downward movement of the post and to separate the contacts upon a subsequent upward movement of the post, and means for disengaging the latch to permit engagement of the two contacts upon movement of the arm angularly a substantial distance about the axis of the post.

BASIL A. STROUT. 

